The remarkable bravery of a 11-year-old husky named Bella has saved her young human brother from a charging black bear in Connecticut. Footage from a doorbell camera shows the terrifying moment the bear appears, but Bella springs into action, chasing the animal away from her brother and into the nearby woods.
The incident occurred when Colton, the 6-year-old boy, was playing in the front yard of his family's home while his father, Jeffrey Tazzara, was loading the car in the garage. Tazzara recalled hearing Bella let out a fierce bark, which was followed by the sound of the bear charging towards his son.
Tazzara rushed outside to find his son standing between the bear and the house, but Bella had already intervened, chasing the bear off the property. The dog was rewarded for its bravery with a T-bone at the family's next steak night.
The Tazzara family may want to reconsider Bella's leash-free lifestyle, however, as the incident highlights the growing population of black bears in Connecticut. State officials have reported a rise in bear activity, with more bears entering homes and causing conflicts with humans.
A recent report from the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection found that there have been 265 reports of bears entering homes over the past six years, with many of these incidents occurring when bears pushed through screen doors and windows.
The report also noted that the home entries average to four break-ins per 100 bears each year, highlighting the need for residents to take precautions to secure their homes and prevent bear encounters.
